TREATMENTS
A parents’ guide to what’s new in asthma
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By Brian Bizik ith COVID-19 taking most of the health headlines, other medical ailments have been pushed to the news cycle background. One of those conditions is asthma. But that cough you hear might not be the latest virus; it might be asthma, a disease that is frequently worse in the fall and winter months. If you have a child with asthma you know just how scary the disease can be. Even mild asthma can cause wheezing and coughing, making activity or sleeping difficult. As of 2018, 7.7 percent of children in the U.S. had asthma and missed a total of 10.5 million days of school. The cost of asthma treatment and the missed school/work due to asthma is astounding, just under $60 billion dollars a year – over $3,000 for every person in the US. These costs make it the 7th most expensive disease. When it comes to the treatment of asthma in the U.S., the National Institutes of Health has a division called the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute that is in charge of providing updates on the medications and plans that are best at controlling this chronic disease. The last published update was in 2007, meaning no real change in treatment has been recommended since the year the very first iPhone was released by Apple. That all changed in late 2019.
Just before the medical world was turned upside-down with a virus migrating its way from Wuhan, China, the U.S. released a proposed update to the management of asthma. The changes recommended would dramatically alter how we manage asthma. For almost 50 years the basis of asthma management was albuterol. If you have asthma, have a child with asthma, or have ever seen an inhaler, it was likely albuterol. This quick-relief inhaler provides an ultra-quick way to open up tight lungs, dissolve asthma cough and make wheezes a thing of the past. Just a couple puffs and asthma is gone. Right? Wrong! The latest update made it clear that while albuterol (brand names include Proair, Proventil and Ventolin) is a rapid acting medication and is the clear choice when a swift remedy is needed, it does little to change the course of the asthma state. Specifically, it does nothing to help change the other aspects of asthma – lung swelling (inflammation) and increased mucous production. When the only medication given for asthma is albuterol, the lungs may feel open, but the base asthma problems are not affected. The new recommendations seek to change this “severe over-reliance on albutero.” The updated guidelines also note that patients who over-use albuterol are more likely to end up in the emergency room and more often get admitted to the hospital. The parental take home point: if you Be a legend. have a youngster with asthma who uses Insure your life. their rescue albuterol inhaler more than Be a legend. once a week, on average, they need a Insure your life. second inhaler. This new device is one With the right life insurance, with a medication that can reduce the you can leave a legacy for your family. I’m here to help. inflammation and mucous production LET’S TALK TODAY. With the right life insurance, that accompanies asthma. The second KenKen Wells, Agent With the right life insurance, Wells, Agent leave for is a corticosteroid medication. 600600 N NMidland Blvd you canyou leavecan a legacy for a legacyinhaler Midland Blvd Nampa, ID 83651 Nampa, ID 83651 your family. here to help. yourI’mfamily. I’m here to help. 208-466-4162 Bus:Bus: 208-466-4162 These inhaled anti-inflammatory www.kenwells.net LET’S TALK TODAY. www.kenwells.net LET’S TALK TODAY. medications are very safe, with little getting into the bloodstream yet are State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI) State Farm Life powerful treatments that get to the heart and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) Bloomington, IL
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12 OCT/NOV/DEC 2020 | Idaho Family Magazine
of asthma and change the disease process. In short, they are not an asthma band-aid. Dr. Neetu Talreja, a board-certified allergist and pediatric asthma and allergy specialist with The Allergy Group in Boise notes, “We want children who have symptoms more than a few times a month to talk with their provider about the possibility of adding in an inhaled corticosteroid to help control their symptoms, not just treating the airway tightness.” The additional inhaler does more than treat the immediate symptoms; it goes further to help stop the tissue swelling that often accompanies asthma flares. “The corticosteroid inhalers work much longer than albuterol and help maintain control of asthma,” added Dr. Talreja. Most children and teens will just keep both inhalers with them at all times, carrying both in their backpack or when at a friend’s house. Like before, they will use their rescue albuterol inhaler when they have symptoms like a cough or wheeze. However, now after their albuterol, they will also take two puffs of the second inhaler. This way they can address all aspects of asthma and make additional problems (asthma flares) less likely to occur. If this as-needed use of both inhalers is not enough to control symptoms, your provider may want to increase use to once or twice daily. Considering we are on iPhone 11 now, these new guidelines have been anticipated for some time and have started to change how we prescribe inhaler mediations. Thankfully most insurance plans and Medicaid cover these anti-inflammatory inhalers with minimal or no co-pays. As we head into the latter part of the year when infection rates and asthma flares rise, it is a good time to talk with your health care provider or asthma specialist. Talk about how often inhalers are used and the asthma symptoms you see. Pay close attention to cough, especially at night, and to problems during activity or exercise as www.idahofamilymagazine.com
